ITV Sport channel to cover BSB Championship.

British Motorsport Promoters Limited (BMP) is delighted to announce a third UK broadcast partner for the 2001 British Superbike Championship. They have reached an agreement with ITV Digital to show 'live' and 'as live' race coverage on the new ITV sport channel, which is available via ntl: and ITV Digital.

This coverage will run alongside the existing coverage on British Eurosport (including 'live' and 'as live' broadcasts of all classes) together with the free-to-air terrestrial coverage of British Superbikes on the BBC TV Grandstand programmes.

The tenth round of the British Superbike Championship, which was staged last weekend at Brands Hatch was the first race action to be shown on ITV Sport.

The agreement to provide coverage on both ITV Sport and British Eurosport will continue until at least the end of the 2001 season, while the BBC contract is secure until the end of the 2004 season.

"The British Superbike Championship provides some of the most spectacular motorsport entertainment and we are delighted that it will now reach a further, growing audience through this agreement with ITV Sport - it is a very exciting time for the championship," said Series Director, Jos Foulston.

Mark Wilkin, the Head of Production at Octagon CSI (the company responsible for the production of all coverage), welcomed the additional exposure: "Octagon is delighted with this new partnership with ITV Digital and very much look forward to bringing the excitement of the British Superbike Championship to their new audience."